Three generations gather for day on the lake

Monday

Jan 28, 2013 at 9:02 AMJan 28, 2013 at 9:03 AM

By Matt Durr

matt.durr@hillsdale.netHILLSDALE – It wasn’t a keeper, nor was it a fish she could enter into the Tip-Up festival Kid’s competition. At well under two feet in length, the Pike won’t be going on her bedroom wall, but for 9-year-old Alyana Berry, that fish will be the one she forever compares to the rest.On a blistering cold Saturday morning, Berry caught her first fish without any help from her family. With her mother and stepfather Robert Holmes watching, Berry set the hook and gave it a yank, hard enough for the fish to almost fly right out of the hole."It was a pretty cool experience," Berry said with a smile that showed her excitement. "I’ll always remember it."Berry is a third generation ice fisher and on this day she and her two siblings, 4-year-old Zoey and 3-year-old Wyatt Holmes are out for on Baw Beese Lake with their parents and their Granduncle Bruce Hartung. The kids took up the sport last year under the guidance of Robert and his uncle, Hartung.Having been an ice fisherman for more than three decades, Hartung has a wealth of knowledge to pass along to his eager apprentices. Although this is only the second year the family has made it out on the ice together, Hartung says it’s already become a tradition."I looked forward to this all year," Hartung said. "We get the most out of this and we make it a family event out of it. We enjoy it."It’s a better day when we have them come along. Some of the days out here get long and tiresome. It really breaks up the monotony of ice fishing."The family was out on the lake at 6:30 a.m. setting their bait and marking their spots for the day. Breakfast was expected to follow shortly after, but a busy morning hauling in fish pushed back their breakfast to 10:30 a.m.The kids didn’t mind as the wanted to get the most out of their lone weekend on the lake this year. With the weather finally cooperating, the ice was finally thick enough for the family to feel safe bringing the kids out on the ice."They know their ice safety and they know to stay away from tip ups," Kristen said. "For the most part I can let them run around and just be kids. But when a flag comes up, it’s done with playtime, they’re all serious."For Kristen, getting out on the ice reminds her of when she was a kid and she went ice fishing with her father. Now that she is able to do the same with her children, the experience means more to her."Having kids is awesome. Having kids involved with your hobbies is even more awesome." Kristen said. "There is nothing greater than teaching them something that you enjoy and they enjoy it just as much."Teaching the kids is something that Hartung thoroughly enjoys. As Berry attempts to bring in her second fish, Hartung carefully observes as she tries to pull the fish in. He coaches her on as she tries to not let it slip off the hook. Eventually the potential catch gets off the line, escaping without taking the bait.Hartung bends down and explains to Berry what she can do next time to avoid losing the catch. She listens intently before running off to play of the ice, content to wait until the next one is on the line.Whether or not she catches another one isn’t what’s on her mind anyway. While catching fish is nice, Berry said there is a different reason why she enjoys being out there."Being able to spend time with my family."